Controllers for electric skateboards

ABSTRACT

A controller for an electric skateboard is provided. The controller includes a pistol-grip housing configured to fit in a palm of a hand of a user of the electric skateboard; an accelerator trigger positioned on an upper front portion of the pistol-grip housing, and configured to be actuated by a first finger of the hand when the pistol-grip housing is gripped; a brake trigger positioned on an upper rear portion of the pistol-grip housing, and configured to be actuated by a thumb of the hand when the pistol-grip housing is gripped; and a display screen positioned on a front upper portion of the pistol-grip housing above the accelerator trigger and forwardly of the brake trigger, and configured to be viewed by the user when the pistol-grip housing is gripped.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Australian Patent Application No.2017904121, filed Oct. 12, 2017.

FIELD

The present invention relates to controllers for electric skateboards.

BACKGROUND

A variety of controllers have been proposed for electric skateboards.Existing controllers typically comprise multiple buttons and switchespositioned on a handheld housing to be accessed and actuated by fingersand/or thumbs of a hand of a user.

Existing controllers for electric skateboards suffer from variousdrawbacks. They are typically unergonomic because their multiplebuttons, switches and thumb wheels that cannot be readily accessed oractuated by a user's fingers or thumb. In addition, existing controllersdo not comfortably or intuitively translate hand movements intocorresponding trigger control inputs for high performance electricskateboards. As a result, existing controllers fail to logically orsafely map hand movements to the different operations andfunctionalities of high performance electric skateboards, such asacceleration, braking, speed control by thumb control, etc.

In this context, there is a need for safe, comfortable and intuitivecontrollers for high performance electric skateboards.

SUMMARY

According to the present invention, there is provided a controller foran electric skateboard, the controller comprising:

a pistol-grip housing configured to fit in a palm of a hand of a user ofthe electric skateboard;

an accelerator trigger positioned on an upper front portion of thepistol-grip housing, and configured to be actuated by a first finger ofthe hand when the pistol-grip housing is gripped;

a brake trigger positioned on an upper rear portion of the pistol-griphousing, and configured to be actuated by a thumb of the hand when thepistol-grip housing is gripped; and

a display screen positioned on a front upper portion of the pistol-griphousing above the accelerator trigger and forwardly of the braketrigger, and configured to be viewed by the user when the pistol-griphousing is gripped.

The controller may further comprise a deadman safety switch positionedon a middle front portion of the pistol-grip housing below theaccelerator trigger, and configured to be actuated by second, third andlittle fingers of the hand when the pistol-grip housing is gripped.

The controller may further comprise first and second speed controlbuttons positioned on a middle rear portion of the pistol-grip housingbelow the brake trigger, and configured to be actuated by a thumb of thehand when the pistol-grip housing is gripped.

The controller may further comprise an ON/OFF button positioned on alower rear portion of the of the pistol-grip housing below the first andsecond speed control buttons.

The ON/OFF button may be illuminated by LEDs (light emitting diodes)configured to indicate an ON operating state of the controller.

The controller may further comprise a rechargeable battery positioned inthe pistol-grip housing.

The controller may further comprise an electronics assembly positionedin the pistol-grip housing and connected to each of the rechargeablebattery, accelerator trigger, brake trigger, display screen, first andsecond speed control buttons, deadman safety switch, and ON/OFF button,wherein the electronics assembly is configured to wirelessly communicatewith an electronic control module of the electric skateboard.

The controller may further comprise a micro-USB (universal series bus)socket positioned on a lower front portion of the pistol-grip housingbelow the deadman safety switch, and configured to receive a micro-USBplug to charge the rechargeable battery.

The pistol-grip housing may comprise first and second moulded plasticshells.

The pistol-grip housing may further comprise first and second gripportions respectively over moulded over portions of the first and secondmoulded plastic shells.

The accelerator trigger and brake trigger may each comprise a magneticHall effect sensor.

The first and second speed control buttons, deadman safety switch, andON/OFF button may each comprise a tact switch.

The display screen may comprise a TFT-LCD (thin-film transistor liquidcrystal display) screen.

The controller may further comprise a removable screen cover for thedisplay screen.

The controller may further comprise a removable USB cover for themicro-USB socket.

The present invention also provides a method of remotely controlling anelectric skateboard using the controller described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of exampleonly with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a controller for an electricskateboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the controller;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the controller;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the controller; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pistol-grip housing andovermoulded grip portions of the controller.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a controller 10 for an electric skateboard (notshown) according to an embodiment of the present invention may generallycomprise a pistol-grip housing 12 configured to fit in a palm of a hand(not shown) of a user (not shown) of the electric skateboard. Anaccelerator trigger 14 may be positioned on an upper front portion ofthe pistol-grip housing 12, and may be configured to be actuated by afirst finger of the hand when the pistol-grip housing 12 is gripped. Inuse, actuation of the accelerator trigger 14 may progressivelyaccelerate the electric skateboard. A brake trigger 16 may be positionedon an upper rear portion of the pistol-grip housing 12, and may beconfigured to be actuated by a thumb of the hand when the pistol-griphousing is gripped. In use, actuation of the brake trigger 16 mayprogressively brake the electric skateboard.

A display screen 18 may be positioned on a front upper portion of thepistol-grip housing 12 above the accelerator trigger 14 and forwardly ofthe brake trigger 16. The display screen 18 may be configured to beviewed by the user when the pistol-grip housing 12 is gripped. Forexample, the display screen 18 may be inclined upwardly from the braketrigger 16 from its rear to its front ends toward a head and eyes of theuser. In use, the display screen 18 may display parameters relating tothe operating state, set up and performance of the electric skateboard,such as speed, distance, battery life, gear ratios, speed settings andskateboard electrical diagnostics etc.

The controller 10 may further comprise a deadman safety switch 20positioned on a middle front portion of the pistol-grip housing belowthe accelerator trigger 14, and configured to be actuated by second,third and little fingers of the hand when the pistol-grip housing isgripped. In use, releasing the deadman safety switch 20 may cease theoperation of the electric skateboard, and will not allow control theelectric skateboard unless it is pressed in by the second, third andlittle fingers of the hand when the pistol-grip housing 12 is gripped. Amicro-USB socket 22 may be positioned on a lower front portion of thepistol-grip housing 12 below the deadman safety switch 20, and may beconfigured to receive a micro-USB plug (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the controller 10 may further comprise firstand second speed control buttons 24, 26 positioned on a middle rearportion of the pistol-grip housing 12 below the brake trigger 16. Thefirst and second speed control buttons 24, 26 may be configured to beactuated by a thumb of the hand when the pistol-grip housing 12 isgripped. In use, the first and second speed control buttons 24, 26 mayselectively change the speed of the electric skateboard between twopredetermined speed settings, and may also allow the user to access thedifferent user modes to best control the electric skateboard. Thecontroller 10 may further comprise an ON/OFF button 28 positioned on alower rear portion of the of the pistol-grip housing 12 below the firstand second speed control buttons 24, 26. The ON/OFF button 28 may beilluminated by LEDs 30 configured to indicate an ON operating state ofthe controller 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 10 may further comprise arechargeable battery 32 positioned in the pistol-grip housing 12. Themicro-USB socket 22 may be configured to charge the rechargeable battery32 via a micro-USB plug (not shown). The controller 10 may furthercomprise an electronics assembly 34 positioned in the pistol-griphousing 12 and connected to each of the rechargeable battery 32,accelerator trigger 14, brake trigger 16, display screen 18, first andsecond speed control buttons 24, 26, deadman safety switch 20, andON/OFF button 28. The electronics assembly 34 of the controller 10 maybe configured to wirelessly communicate with an electronic controlmodule (not shown) of the electric skateboard, and to map or translateuser inputs via the controller 10 to the different operations andfunctionalities of the electric skateboard.

A removable screen cover 36 may be provided for the display screen 18,and a removable USB cover 38 may be provided for the micro-USB socket22. Each of the accelerator trigger 14 and the brake trigger 16 may bemounted in the pistol-grip housing 12 via a spring 40 and a pin 42.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the pistol-grip housing 12 may comprise firstand second moulded plastic shells 44, 46. First and second grip portions48, 50 may be respectively over moulded over portions of the first andsecond moulded plastic shells 36, 38.

The accelerator trigger 14 and brake trigger 16 may, for example, eachcomprise a magnetic Hall effect sensor. The first and second speedcontrol buttons 24, 26, deadman safety switch 20, and ON/OFF button 28may, for example, each comprise a tact switch. The display screen 18may, for example, comprise a TFT-LCD screen.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a safe, comfortable andintuitive controller that is useful for remotely controlling highperformance electric skateboards.

For the purpose of this specification, the word “comprising” means“including but not limited to,” and the word “comprises” has acorresponding meaning.

The above embodiments have been described by way of example only andmodifications are possible within the scope of the claims that follow.

1. A controller for an electric skateboard, the controller comprising: apistol-grip housing configured to fit in a palm of a hand of a user ofthe electric skateboard; an accelerator trigger positioned on an upperfront portion of the pistol-grip housing, and configured to be actuatedby a first finger of the hand when the pistol-grip housing is gripped; abrake trigger positioned on an upper rear portion of the pistol-griphousing, and configured to be actuated by a thumb of the hand when thepistol-grip housing is gripped; and a display screen positioned on afront upper portion of the pistol-grip housing above the acceleratortrigger and forwardly of the brake trigger, and configured to be viewedby the user when the pistol-grip housing is gripped.
 2. The controllerof claim 1, further comprising a deadman safety switch positioned on amiddle front portion of the pistol-grip housing below the acceleratortrigger, and configured to be actuated by second, third and littlefingers of the hand when the pistol-grip housing is gripped.
 3. Thecontroller of claim 1, further comprising first and second speed controlbuttons positioned on a middle rear portion of the pistol-grip housingbelow the brake trigger, and configured to be actuated by a thumb of thehand when the pistol-grip housing is gripped.
 4. The controller of claim3, further comprising an ON/OFF button positioned on a lower rearportion of the of the pistol-grip housing below the first and secondspeed control buttons.
 5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the ON/OFFbutton is illuminated by LEDs (light emitting diodes) configured toindicate an ON operating state of the controller.
 6. The controller ofclaim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery positioned in thepistol-grip housing.
 7. The controller of claim 6, further comprising anelectronics assembly module positioned in the pistol-grip housing andconnected to each of the rechargeable battery, accelerator trigger,brake trigger, display screen, first and second speed control buttons,deadman safety switch, and ON/OFF button, wherein the electronicsassembly is configured to wirelessly communicate with an electroniccontrol module of the electric skateboard.
 8. The controller of claim 6,further comprising a micro-USB (universal series bus) socket positionedon a lower front portion of the pistol-grip housing below the deadmansafety switch, and configured to receive a micro-USB plug to charge therechargeable battery.
 9. The controller of claim 1, wherein thepistol-grip housing comprises first and second moulded plastic shells.10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the pistol-grip housing furthercomprises first and second grip portions respectively over moulded overportions of the first and second moulded plastic shells.
 11. Thecontroller of claim 1, wherein the accelerator trigger and brake triggereach comprise a magnetic Hall effect sensor.
 12. The controller of claim4, wherein the first and second speed control buttons, deadman safetyswitch, and ON/OFF button each comprise a tact switch.
 13. Thecontroller of claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a TFT-LCD(thin-film transistor liquid crystal display) screen.
 14. The controllerof claim 1, further comprising a removable screen cover for the displayscreen.
 15. The controller of claim 8, further comprising a removableUSB cover for the micro-USB socket.
 16. A method of remotely controllingan electric skateboard using the controller of claim 1.